Applications are currently being accepted for the 2015-2016 Vaclav Havel Journalism Fellowship - http://www.rferl.org/havel_journalism_fellowship.html (VHJF). The purpose of the Fellowship is to support aspiring journalists from countries lacking media freedom and independence to pursue their profession in support of pluralism. It is inspired by former Czech President Vaclav Havel's belief in the transformational role of journalism in challenging tyranny.
The Fellowship is a joint initiative of RFE/RL - http://www.rferl.org/ and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic - http://www.mzv.cz/en, and is generously supported by the Prague Freedom Foundation - http://praguefreedom.org/ and the Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation VIZE97 - http://www.vize.cz/.
Selected Fellows are placed with a language service at RFE/RL’s headquarters in Prague, where they receive on-the-job training and mentoring while working alongside RFE/RL’s seasoned professionals. The program will help position the selected Fellows as standard-bearers of their profession and leaders in their communities, on-line, on air, and in the world.
COMPLETED APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED AT havelfellowship@rferl.org BY 2400 CET, SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2015.
CANDIDATES WILL BE INFORMED OF THEIR SELECTION BY JULY 3, 2015.
Summary
The Vaclav Havel Journalism Fellowship is made up of five main components:
- Professional development alongside RFE/RL’s seasoned professionals.
- On-the-job training, to include daily multi-media programming and reporting.
- New skills development.
- Participation in the daily editorial debates and discussions that inform a professional and independent press.
- Public outreach.
- Public outreach.
I took out "mentoring," as it's already expressed above, especially in point no. 1. Outreach is the main objective of the DC trip (or equivalent), which is a focal point of the program. It also helps candidates understand that they will have a public role.
The Fellowship also features workshops with experts on digital media, roundtables with journalists and policymakers, visits to local media and news agencies in Prague, and professional development opportunities in the Czech Republic and elsewhere.
Fellows will be expected to represent themselves and the Fellowship in public events and discussions relating to media conditions in their country.
Fellows may be invited to propose projects related to their journalism and receive funding as a follow-on to the Fellowship.
Fellowships are for a term of eight months, including one month spent at the beginning and end of the program at a local RFE/RL bureau. A monthly stipend, housing, insurance, and travel arrangements to and from Prague are provided.
This year, the Fellowship accepts applications from journalists in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, and the Russian Federation.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
http://www.rferl.org/content/vaclav-havel-journalism-fellowship-2015-2016/26987234.html